Life saving and salvage apparatus for use with submarines



May 5, 1931. w. H. MILLS LIFE s vING AND SALVAGE APPARATUS FOR USE WITH SUBMARINES Filed March 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l z Z5 Z I I dung May 5, 1931. w. H. MILLS 1,803,944

LIFE SAVING AND SALVAGE APPARATUS FOR USE WITH SUB'MARINES Filed March 2, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I U WHMZ' ZZ5 Patented May 5, 1931 PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM HUGH MILLS, OF AT'ILEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS SAVING AND SALVAGE APPARATUS FOR USE WITHSUBMARINES Application filed March 2,

This invention relatesto life saving and salvage apparatus for use with submarines. An important object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this character permitting access to the interior of a sunken submarine, provided a chamber of the submarine is water-tight without the necessity of subjecting this chamber to the pressure of the surrounding water.

A further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a construction permitting the attachment to a submarine of an escape hatch leading from the submarine to j the surface of the water.

1 A still further object of the invention is to provide means for indicating the position of a sunken submarine.

These and other objects I attain by the construction shown in the accompanying V '20 drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein Figure 1 is a view showing life saving and salvage apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention in use;

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the supports carried by the salvage vessel;

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the' connections of the salvage apparatus to the submarine;

Figure 4 is a detail view partially in section of the signalling means;

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the signalling means.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates aplate attached to the deck of a submarine having threaded or otherwise secured therein a hatch 11 which is surrounded by a tubular boss. The hatch 11 is removable from the interior of the submarine and its removal establishes communication between the interior and exterior of the submarine. The numeral 12 generally designates a tube of a length to extend from the plate 10 to a point above the surface of the water. This tube in its lower end has a removable hatch 13 which is removable through this lower end and upon its lower end has a rotatable coupling 14 adapted to 1929. Serial No. 343,888.

engage and bring the tube into sealing engagement with an exteriorly threaded annulalr boss 15 surrounding the hatch 11 of the p ate. V

The upper end of this tube is adapted to be extended through a guide ring 16 carried by and extending outwardly from the deck of a salvage vessel and this upper end is equipped witharing 17 provided with an eye or eyes'18 for engagement with hoisting tackle 19. The hoisting tackle 19 'is connected through'pulleys 20 and 21 mounted respectively upon a mast 22 anda yard 23 extending outwardly-from this mast to a counterweight 24 vertically slidable upon themast and adapted to counterbalance to the greatest possible extent the tube 1 2. The yard 23 may be conveniently employed to support the sheave 25 of a hoisting line 26, one run of which is directed into the upper end of the tube and which may serve as means for elevating persons or objects from the interior of the submarine.

In the use of the apparatus just described, the tube is lowered into position and is coupled to the plate by a diver. The occupants of the submarine then remove the hatches 11 and 13 and thus place the interior ofthe submarine in communication with the at- N mosphere through the tube 12. This tubewill be made of suflicient size to permit escape ofthe occupants of the submarine therethrough. 1 While the plate 10 is at present illustrated as being located upon the upper surface of the deck of the'submarine and the submarine is shown as provided with'but a single plate, itwill be obvious that a number ofLthese plates might be employed and they might be locatedat different points, so that the life saving and salvage apparatus can be employed if thesubmarine is canted;i The plate furthermore preferably provides a means for introducing air to the interior of thesubmarine, having a valve-controlled port 27 surrounded by a threaded boss 28 to which an air hose-29 may .be connected. 1

.. 'One of the plates of the submarine-will be equipped with a position indicating buoy mechanism, such as more particularly shown in Figure 4;. This buoy mechanism comprises a reel 30 having a cable line 31 attached thereto and wound thereon. The

free end of this cable line is attached to a buoy 32 which may be suitably lettered to indicate its purpose. The buoy, during normal submergence of the submarine, is held against escape from the submarine by means ,-of a hook 33. This hook is pivoted to an end frame member 34: of the drum mounting and would normally swing upwardly to permit escape of the. buoy therefrom during submergence. It is, however, held against such upward movement by means of a shackle yolk 34 which engages its outer end and holds it against vertical mov ment.

This sh ckle yoke has operating rod .85

secured thereto which extends through the deck and beneath the deck is equipped with an operating'handle and an adjustable stop element 37 for restraining upward movement of the rod. This rod at this point of passage through the deck is sealed thereto in any suitable manner. In the present in stance, a rubber tube 38 is shown as sealed to the rod at its upper end and to the deck at its lower end, this tube being in surrounding relation to the rod. 1

It will be obvious that by employing ap paratus of this character, salvage operationsin connection with submarines may be greatly facilitated and the likelihood of loss of life in event of sinking of a submarine to a large extent eliminated.

It will also be obvious that the construction hereinbefore set forth is capable of a certain range of change and modification without materially departing from the spirit of the invention and I accordingly do not limit myself thereto except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1-- 1. Means for indicating the position of a sunken vessel comprising a float, a reel, means for rotatably mounting the reel on the vessel, a flexible member wound about said reel, a Vshaped member secured to saidfloat and removably' seating on said mount ing means for said reel, means for ;connect 59 ing one side of said Vshaped member to the flexible means, a ring loosely mounted in the opposite side of said Vshaped member,

support and engaging said ring, and manually operable means engagi g, id l king means, said manually operable means upon vertical movement thereof, being adapted to release said locking means whereby to permit said float to rise upwardly.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

WILLIAM MILLS.

a pivoted arm secured to said mounting means, said arm having an upturned end I portion, said arm. being adapted to extend through said 'ring whereby to releasably hold said float on said mounting means, and

a vertical movable member engaging the upturned end portion of said arm wherebyto 69 normally hold said arm in outstanding position, said movable vertical member extending inwardly of the vessel whereb to per- Iipit operation thereof remotely rom the oat.

2. Means for indicating the position. of a 

